Preparations for the hosting of the Caribbean’s Agri Investment Forum and Expo are “well advanced” and approximately 150 exhibitors in addition to 100 agro-processors have confirmed their participation.
Some 60 per cent of booths have already been sold for the much-anticipated event – the third one thus far – at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater, Georgetown from October 20-22.
Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, following a walkthrough of the venue, told the media on Tuesday that the event this year will again present an opportunity to heighten awareness of the ongoing “positive transformation” of CARICOM’s food system.
“As the host and the lead country for Agriculture within the region, Guyana is demonstrating its unwavering commitment to the development and modernization of the sector while realizing its potential of once again becoming the bread basket of CARICOM,” Mustapha contended.
He added that new and emerging prospects of CARICOM’s agriculture, including technological and logistical solutions, will also be in the spotlight.
A number of Heads of Government and international partners have confirmed participation at the expo and Mustapha believes that more investments will be made in the agriculture sector as a result of the annual event.
“Last year, we would have seen the result – a number of investors have already started to invest in various countries in CARICOM. As a matter of fact, I am hoping that during the Agri Investment Expo, we will commission one of the first or the largest Hydroponics farms in the Caribbean right here in Guyana.”
In December last year, Mustapha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Israeli company, KARLICO INC. making way for the development of the massive hydroponics farm on the East Coast of Demerara.
And according to Mustapha, this same company attended the Agri Investment Forum last year.
Meanwhile, he also contended that events like this provide the encouragement young people need to get involved in the agriculture sector. As a matter of fact, he noted that over 300 young people have been engaged from the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and the University of Guyana (UG) and are now shareholders in the company formed by President Dr Irfaan Ali – The Agricultural Innovation Entrepreneurial Programme.
It is also expected that several MoUs will be signed at the expo.
